Poems and Stories 
written by 
Children Of Migrant Workers
excerpts from, I Will Always Stay Me
edited by Sherry Kafka and Robert Coles
Texas Monthly Press, Inc. 1982
 

Someone Coming

Someone coming
Who could it be?
A flash of red hair.
A stomp of feet.
Oh, just a teacher,
coming to my desk.
I thought I did something.
All of a sudden
I sat still....
The teacher smiled.
 
Rosa Cadena 
Grade 6 
Carrizo Springs
 

My World

    My world is in Brackettville because I enjoy life in Brachettville.  I go to school to learn and to meet friends.  But that does not mean that I do not have to go to work, because we always have to leave before school is even out to work like a dog.  
    What I hate most of all is to leave my school and my friends for summer work.  I never have the time to have fun with my friends, like the guys who are rich, or think they are.
    Us poor Mexicans have to work like a dog to have nice things.

 

Victor Hernandez
Grade 7 
Brackettville

Work

When we went to Nebraska, we worked in the field.  We had to cut out the plants that did not belong there.  It was hard work.  We had to work out in the sun.  That's why I am a little black, because I take off my clothes and the other thing I have on is a muscle shirt and some shorts.  I only made two dollars, because my mother took some money away from us.  After school ends, we are going to Nebraska again.  I hope I make lots of money so I can buy something for me.  If I make twenty-five dollars, I might buy a little puppy.

Marina Sanchez
Grade 6
Dilley
 
People
 
At our motel people come and go.
Some are really very nice to know.
There are those who are honest and pay
But there are some who sneak away.
Some people are kind and sweet
And keep their rooms clean and neat.
Yet, some people are mean and rude
They leave their room full of trash and food.
 
 
Bobby Vargos
Grade 4
Pearsall
 
I promised my Family
 
I promised my family that I was going to finish school.  I don't know if 
I 'm going to college.  Next year I am going to be in sixth grade, if I pass to the sixth grade, I like to read funny stories about animals like snakes, and tell what happened in the story.  We aren't suppose to talk Spanish in the room because Mr. Moore said we need to learn English.  My father and mother didn't finish school.  My father doesn't know how to read, and my mother only knows how to read a little.  That's why I want to finish school.
Beulah Ramirez
Grade 5
Dilley

How?

How can people pretend they like you,
when deep inside they really don't?
How can they say, "Hi,"
when what they want to say is "Bye"?
How can they say, "You look great!"
when they don't really mean it?
Who are they fooling? Me?
Do they really think so?
The only people they fool
are those with an ignorant mind.
 
Kristie Rodriquez
Grade 7
Crystal City

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